Flashmob

Flashmob. Bonito palabro. ¿Que narices es esto del Flashmob?

Flashmob es la quinta esencia del "pasalo". Son iniciativas anonimas, sin ningun sentido concreto, cuyo fin es pasarselo bien. Los ejemplos son claros: quedadas en lugares emblematicos de las grandes ciudades para bailar durante quince minutos y despues dispersarse. O guerras de almohadas que duran pocos minutos en lugares transitados. O cualquier cosa que se te ocurra. Este tipo de mensajes utilizan las nuevas tecnologias para propagarse, como los e-mails, los moviles y las paginas web. Son anonimos y dirigidos a todo el mundo. No tienen ningun tipo de objetivo especifico. Y si quereis hacer un analisis.... quizas la sociedad actual no de espacios libres de expresion y estos haya que buscarselos de esta manera.
Echarle un vistazo en la pagina Flashmob.com, o busca en Youtube con la palabra "flashmob". Hay de todo y en todas partes y si teneis ocasion estaria chulo formar parte de uno, como poco, te ries un rato.

Flashmob, beautiful word. What the hell is that Flashmob????

Flashmob is the soul of the "pass it". They're anonimous initiatives, without any rational sense with the goal of having a good time. The examples are clear, get together in famous places of the big cities to dance for 15 minutes and then dissapear. Or pillow fights in crowded places. Or anything that you can imagine. this kind of messages use new technologies to spread, like e-mail, mobile phones or web pages. They're anonimous and directed to everyone. They dont have any specific objective or goal. If you would like to make an analysis... maybe the actual society doesn't give free spaces of expression, thus it's needed to look for then in any other way.
Take a look to the webpage Flashmob.com or go to Youtube and search "flashmob". You'll ifnd everything. So, if you have the opportunity, be part of a flashmob, at least you'll laugh.

World Social Forum 2007, Nairobi. Another World is Possible

Que mejor manera de empezar la nueva etapa que hablando del evento social por excelencia, el Foro Social Mundial.
El Foro Social Mundial se viene realizando desde hace el año 2000. Durante tres ediciones se celebro en la localidad brasileña de Porto Alegre, para moverse en 2004 a Mumbay, India. Despues volvio a Porto Alegre y el año pasado se probo una variante multicentrica, con tres diferentes localizaciones, Caracas, Venezuela; Bamako, Mali; e Islamabad, Pakistan. Finalmente este año se ha vuelto a la modalidad de centro unico en Nairobi, Kenia. Este año se celebran entre el 20 y el 25 de Enero, asi que, en el momento de escribir esto, estamos en plena efervescencia!!!!.

¿Qué es esto del Foro Social Mundial?. Basicamente, es la reunion de agentes sociales mas grande del mundo. En el evento se discuten alternativas al crecimiento actual del mundo y al modelo de gestion neoliberal. Tal y como pone en la Carta de Porto Alegre el FSM es un lugar abierto de reunión donde grupos y movimientos de la sociedad civil opuestos al neo-liberalismo y a un mundo dominado por el capital o por cualquier forma del imperialismo, que a su vez están comprometidos con la construcción de una sociedad planetaria concentrada en la persona humana, se juntan para conjugar su pensamiento, para debatir las ideas democráticamente, para formular propuestas, para compartir sus experiencias libremente y para crear redes de acción efectivas.

Mi experiencia personal en el Foro se limita a mi asistencia el año anterior a la edicion en Caracas. Y realmente a primera vista puede parecer una reunion de un monton de rojos hippies y titiriteros con ganas de pasarselo bien. Basicamente algo de eso hay, pero tambie es un lugar donde se crean y se debaten experiencias e ideas novedosas y sobre todo es la muestra de que el mundo es una miriada de opciones que merecen todo nuestra atencion. Describiros aqui lo que es el foro social puede llevarme cienes y cienes de post, asi que os dejo el siguiente link:
Foro Social Mundial Nairobi 2007 "Las Luchas de las personas, las alternativas de las personas."

Como todo, tiene sus contras. Y una de ellas es su falta de direccion concreta y su todavia, en muchos sectores, su falta de una ideologia de accion alternativa. Pero es un foro donde voces que no se pueden hacer oir salen y chillan y os puedo decir que hay voces que no se les oye, pero que deberian de poder hablar alto, muy alto.

How best to start the new course talking about the World Social Forum, the social event of the year.
The World Social Forum it's been celebrated since year 2000. It started in Porto Alegre, Brazil and was happening there for three years, after that it moved to Mumbay, India, then back to Porto Alegre, then was split between three diferent cities in 2006, Caracas in Venezuela, Bamako in Mali and Islamabad in Pakistan. Finally, this year, it came back to the single city, being in Nairobi, Kenya. This year the WSF is between the 20th and the 25th of January so, while I'm writing this it's happening!!!!

What's this of the WSF? Is the biggest social agents meeting of the year. There, they disscuss alternatives to development and advancing outside the neoliberalist paradigm. As we can read in the Porto Alegre Charter the WSF is an open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centred on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.

Mi personal experience in the WSF its limited to my assistance to Caracas last year. At first glance it can be confused with a meeting of a bunch of hippie, reddish, tumblers with the aim of having a good time. Probably it's something of this, but it's a place where is possible to hear and discuss alternatives to the actual way of develoment and growth. Some of this ideas are really important and brilliant initiatives. But, most important, is the proof that the world is vastly complex, with a miriad of different ways, different ideas. To explain what the WSF is can use a hundred of posts, instead of that, I give you the link I posted above, in the spanish part.

As everything, it has its hindrances. One of them is the lack of direction or the excesive relying in, yet, old ideologies of action. But it's a place where voices that cannot be heard can shout and sing and I can tell you that some of this voices, silent voices, need to be heard loud, very loud.

Cambio de Rumbo - Change of Course

Hola a todos y a todas.

Como habeis podido comprobar, ha pasado mas de un mes sin nada nuevo en el blog. Las razones han sido varias, pero las mas importantes son la cantidad de trabajo que he tenido que afrontar este mes, el debate metafisico sobre que es lo que yo quiero de este blog y por ultimo y mas importante, estoy realmente cansado. Cansado, agotado, fisica y mentalmente. Asi que, antes de irme de vacaciones, he decidido dar un nuevo giro al blog. En realidad es una vuelta a los origenes, es dedicarlo a aquellas experiencias, movimientos, actos, impulsos, percepciones que tengan como objetivo, origen o sentido abrir espacios donde antes no los habia, crear caminos, abrir nuevas vias y cerrar otras. Tenia esto en mente desde hace algun tiempo, incluso pense en crear un blog nuevo. Pero he decidido volver a las raices.
Esto me facilita mucho las cosas. No tengo que postear mucho. Tambien es cierto que en la declaracion de intenciones ya decia yo que no tenia el valor de mantener un blog al dia. Y me permite hacer un seguimiento de todas esas iniciativas, a todos los niveles, que sean novedosas, y sobre todo que sean de iniciativa popular, fuera de las esferas de accion convencional. Por supuesto, este es un debate que esta ahi. Y que por lo tanto, esta totalmente abierto para plantearlo aqui. La idea es mostrar otra cara de las cosas. Una cara "amable". Y mostrar ideas que pueden ser debatidas, denostadas, vilipendiadas, alabadas, incluso imitadas. Pero sobre todo, el objetivo de todo esto es crear un poquito de conciencia. Conciencia de que se pueden cambiar las cosas a mejor, un "mejor" donde todos y todas podamos ser un poquito mas felices.
Espero se pueda conseguir.


Hello everyone:

As you could see, it's been more than a month since my last post. There're several reasons for that but the most important are the amount of work that I had to handle the last month; the deep metaphysical debate about the meaning of this blog; and the fact that I am really tired mentally and physically. So, before going on holidays (I don't remember the last time I had them) I decide to change the course of the blog. Actually it's a back to the initial idea, to dedicate this blog to these initiatives, acts, movements, impulses, perceptions that have the opening of news spaces, creating new ideas, give new ways and close old ones, as their main goal. I had this in mind for a while, even I though about creating a new blog for that but I decided going back to the roots.
This will make all the things easier. I don't have to post so often but it's true that, in my first post, I said that I don't have the time and the mentality to maintain a blog.But this is not an excuse of the past errors. This new idea will allow me to follow all these initiatives, at all levels, new initiatives that come outside the conventinal area. Of course, this is an open debate to be addressed here. The idea is to show other side of the things, a more kind face. And to show things that barely appears on th media. Of course, all these initiatives can be critizized, loathed, cheered, hated or even imitated. But the final objective is to create a little bit of conscience. Conscience that we can be a little better, that we can be a little bit happier.

I hope we can achieve that.

Abrazos Gratis

Lo he leido hoy en "EL Pais". Es lo mas bonito que he visto en mucho tiempo. Al parecer, un australiano comenzo a repartir abrazos gratis y se ha convertido en un fenomeno mundial. Nosotros estamos pensando en hacerlo aqui, en Bradford.
¿Que os parece la idea?
Aqui os pongo los links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPKSWSPP1E
http://www.elpais.es/articulo/internet/Amor/azar/odio/desconocido/elpportec/20061103elpepunet_4/Tes/

I read it today in "EL Pais". It´s the most beautiful thing I ever saw in a long time. An Autralian guy started, few years ago, to give Hugs for free. Now, it´s happening in Spain. We´re thinking to do it here, at Bradford.
What do you think about it?
You can follow the links above. (The second one is in Spanish)

Botellón

Ok, We had enough of mental deviations of a mad mind, It's time for some social message.

Botellón. This is a spanish word that means literally "Huge Bottle". It represents the custom of the spanish youth people to meet in open spaces to drink alcohol. It's a form of social interaction where all the social constraints are left behind and where they can be wild and free. Of course, this is the perception of the people who participate in the "Botellón".
Bad side of this: Too much alcohol means health problems, fightings, civil disorder.

Since the government of the Popular Party in Spain, the Botellón is forbidden in some regions of the Country. In others is allowed and in other is in this lovely limbus of the "alegal". Why the "Botellón" was forbidden? The right wing policies implies a paternalistic point of view. Please, note the word PATERnalistic. It means that the young people don't know what to do with their lives and, therefore, they have to abide to old people rules. The PP believed that the Botellón was a harmful thing for the youth, so, instead of looking for solutions (another characteristic of the right wing policies) just forbade it. This social interaction mechanism, that was accepted by the spanish society, in its particular way of accepting things, was declared ilegal. All the youth who used to drink in the streets started to hide in houses, small alleys, they started to rent venues to drink, to have this moment of freedom, alone, in clandestinity and with fewer people than before.

Before going on, some acclarations. In Spain, comparing to other european countries, alcohol is relatively cheap. Wine is ridiculously cheap (Bad wine) and mixed with Coke, you'll have the most famous Basque cocktail (Kalimotxo or Calimocho), now is drunk all over Spain. The factors are: youth people (16-25 years old), low income and a great need of interaction with other youth people. More than an opportunity to get drunk, the Botellón is an great moment to try to impress this girl, or try to know some friends, or try to impress this boy..... Is much less violent to a youth get involved in this social manners in the Botellón than in a Bar or a Pub. And, finally, Bars and Pubs in Spain are mostly noisy and small places where the opportunities to talk and to interact are hampered, comparing to the Botellón. But, more important than this, in a Bar or a Pub the youth are not the owners of the situation. The mood depends of the Dj's music, and everything is finished when the bar is closed. The Botellón is a property of the youth. They decide when to start, when to finish, and How much to drink. It's their moment.

These days something strange is happening in Spain. Lots of youth people are meeting together to do Macro-Botellón. The right wing politicians started to say that this is an exercise of irresponsability. The government answered in different ways, depending of the place. In Madrid and Barcelona the police tried to stop it. In Granada, the council prepared a place to let the people meet. I think the Granada case is an example to follow. I see the Botellón as an exercise of rebellion. They need their moment, they need their place. And they will decide when and where. Of course, the Botellón has lots of bad things, like I exposed before, but they need it. They feel free. They are not asking for permission, they are creating and making a space to feel youth. They are, after all, opening spaces. All will finish with a big headache the next morning, or with a bunch of new friends, or with a new girlfriend or boyfriend. And, yes, maybe they will wake up in a hospital with too much alcohol in blood. But life goes on, years come and pass, and they will change they behaviour and they'll look for other spaces and other forms of creativity. Like we did before. This is a clear example of civil struggle, of civil society in direct conflict with the state to transform a system they feel unjust. Organized youth people in a ways never imagined before, looking for a change.

So, if you're in Spain and you feel youth, go to the Botellón. Maybe is not comparable to the cultural movements of the 60's, but is their movement. And that's why it needs all the support.

Botellón libre ya!!!

Oh my senses..... Because, sometimes, you need the impossible to make something possible

A couple of days before, we have a very good night. Lots of friends, lots of good vibes and lots of poetry and music. From this night, I want to share this song. Thank you, Josh. You made it possible.

Hace un par de dias, tuvimos una gran noche. Una noche llena de amigos, buenas vibraciones, musica y poesia. De esa noche, quiero compartir esta cancion. Gracias, Josh, tu lo has hecho posible.

Si alguien quiere la traduccion al español, que me la pida.

Oh My Senses (Oh, mis sentidos)

Isn’t it amazing, the
sunlight on your face?
See the world everything’s right.
See the world everything’s fine.

Isn’t it amazing, the
blue-sky and the clouds?
See the world everything’s right.
See the world everything’s fine.

Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.
Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.

Isn’t it amazing, the
mountain and the streams?
See the world everything’s right.
See the world everything’s fine.

The morning light is falling bright
into my room, and everything is quiet.
See the world everything’s right.
See the world everything’s fine.

Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.
Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.

The daylight may break for you,
and shake for you,
all that have may not last.
The season may bring you down,
it’s alright,
turn back, the other side.

Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.
Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.

Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.
Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.

Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.
Oh my senses, bringing me back,
where everything and everyone
is fine, under the sky.